~ Poets Pub

Poetics: The Metaphorical Mask

Hello and welcome to our friendly place of poetry. This is Michelle Beauchamp (“Mish”), your host today for Poetics.

As the spirit of Halloween hovers, it had me pondering about masks, their origins and uses. For example, in ancient Celtic times, to celebrate the Festival of Samhaim, ugly masks and costumes were worn to confuse and ward off the ghosts of the dead. The Celts were afraid that these evil spirits would become visible, recognize them and create havoc during their transition on October 31st, what they considered to be the eve of a new year.

Masks have played a part in most cultures in some form including religious rituals of African tribes and Native American healing ceremonies. They have provided protection in battle. They have entertained us for many years in the world of theater.

Image credit: pixabay.com

For today’s prompt, I’d like you to focus on metaphorical masks, or psychological masks, so to speak. Whether we admit or not, we have all worn them at one time or another. We use masks to hide our pain, disappointment, resentment, fear, sorrow, jealousy and other emotions we view as negative. We even hide joy when being sensitive to someone else’s misfortune and our own pride, avoiding the risk of appearing arrogant. We may use them to cover up our weaknesses and imperfections. Consider the masks you have worn or the masks of others. Be real or be fictional.

The following poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar, born in 1872 to former slaves from Kentucky, is a powerful expression of the suffering that can lie behind the facade.

Paul Laurence Dunbar

We Wear the Mask

WE wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!

What an intriguing prompt, Mish! Looking forward to reading the posts for this one. Off running errands for a bit; then back to finish reading quadrilles and on to these in the AM. Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Thanks, Mish, for a compelling prompt. I plan to contribute a tanka that alludes to masks–both literal and metaphysical. The last lines should make clear just how metaphysical my implied physical mask is. Plus, it alludes to a famous short story. Enjoy!

Hi Michelle! I’ve come when the bar has closed and all have gone home! I blame work :(. I’ve included a post a wrote several months ago that fir it perfectly with the theme. Now, I have loads to catch up on. Thanks for hosting!

Hi Vivian. I don’t think we’re ever really closed. I can definitely relate to the work schedule making it tricky. I am grateful to others that cover for me when I host. So ..no worries at all. I am still making the rounds to visit others and commenting. Looking forward to reading yours soon. Thanks so much for joining in. 🙂